While it was a statement I suspected was coming for some time, there is no doubt that yesterday’s decision by Rory McIlroy to pull out of the Olympic Games has greatly undermined the efforts of the world’s golfing organisations to re-introduce golf into the games after a 112-year absence. - Referenced Article

LeBron James scored 41 points for the second straight game to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a NBA Finals Game 7 after a 115-101 over the Golden State Warriors Thursday. Game 7 is Sunday in Oakland. - Referenced Article

The Golden State Warriors admitted to missing the suspended Draymond Green in their 112-97 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday night. But they refused to use his absence as a cop-out. - Referenced Article

Smylie Kaufman is playing in his first Masters, and he’ll tee off on Sunday alongside Jordan Spieth in the tournament’s final pairing.

That’s remarkable bordering on miraculous in itself, but then there’s this: Kaufman learned to play Augusta National by playing the course on the Tiger Woods video game. You know, just like Jack and Arnie used to do. - Referenced Article

Brett Favre became the 14th first ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback on Saturday night after being voted in, according to USA Today.

Favre, who has been described as having a “gun-slinging approach” to quarterbacking, became one of the eight members of the 2016 Pro Football Hall of Fame class, in his first year of being eligible to do so. - Referenced Article

The Miami Dolphins got their man. Now it’s up to Adam Gase to prove he can do something predecessor Joe Philbin couldn’t: Get the Dolphins and young quarterback Ryan Tannehill into the playoffs. - Referenced Article

Brisbane, Australia • Serena Williams retired during her Hopman Cup match in Perth on Tuesday, completing a day of injuries and upsets for the leading women's players less than two weeks from the Australian Open.

Williams, who missed the U.S. team's opening loss to Ukraine on Monday because of inflammation in her left knee, was trailing 7-5, 2-1 against Jarmila Wolfe when she left the court in her first match of the season. - Referenced Article